Dredging apparatus



May 4 1926.

- L. H. FALLEY' DREDGING APPARATUS Filed June 4. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheetl May 4 1926. 1,583,132

L. H. FALLEY DBEDGING APPARATUS Filed June 4. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 4,1926. 1,583,132

A -L. H. FALLEY DREDGING APPARATUS Filed June 4, 1923 3 Shuts-Sheet 5 file/r;

Patented May 4, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,583,132 PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS n. FA LEY, or KANSAS CITY, MI sounr, ASSIGNOR To M. n. FALLEY; or

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI;

DREDGING APPARATUS.

Application filed June 1,

tus, of which the following is a complete specification.

The present invention relates to dredging apparatus, and aims to provide an improved construction of this character adapted for efficient operation in producing such shifting operation ,of the material forming the beds and banks of rivers or waterways as is required for excavating or deepening the channels thereof, breaking up sand bars, protecting the banks of streams, or analogous operations.

Accordingly, I havedevised a sluicing dredge device adapted to be operated either in a stationary position, or in conjunction with a moving raft or boat, for exerting a combined digging and sluicing action upon the river bed or bank, and Washing the material of the same out of the pathof movement of the device. This operation is effected by a deflector blade structure so arranged as to produce not only a vplurality of minor digging currents but also a set of washing and carrying currents operating to both loosen up the material and then sluice or wash the same laterally to one side of the apparatus and out of the path of the main current flow.

It is also sought to produce a light, simple and conveniently adjustable and portable apparatus adapted to be readily shifted into or out of operative position and transported from one point to another, and also a construction adapted to be assembled in units of greater or less number, according to the scale of operation required.

With these general objects in. view, the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating 1923. Serial- No. 643,244

same in operative relation to the bedof a broken away, of one of said units shown in the lower part of Figure 1; s

Figure 5is a section on the line 'V. V of Figure 1, but on a larger scale;

1 F igure6 is an enlarged sectional detail View, taken on the line VIVI of Figure 2; a

7 1s a similar detail section taken Figure on the line VII-VII of Figure 1; v v I Figure 8 is a plan view showing a modification of the duplex form of the dredging unit and its relation to the hull of a boat; I i v Q; Figure 9 is a side elevation of the same, in Cpp'erative relation to the bed'of a stream; an 7 p v Figure 10 is a rear elevation of Said modified form of dredging units. 7

Referring now to the drawings, in detail, andniore particularly to Figures 1 to 5, these illustrate the improved typeof dredg-' ing unit as comprising a framework 10 taking the general form of a right triangle having the sides thereof corresponding tothe deflector blades 12 of similar outline (-see ,.F1gure 5). The exact size, pitchandcontour'of these blades are immaterial, as these characterlstics would of course dependupon the particularconditions of use, but in the present instance, the blades of each -group aredesigned to split up themain current into amultiplicity of minor, secondary currents directed downwardly toward the bed of the stream and also deflected'outwardly or laterally away from the main-line of the current flow. These blades are carried by the forward portion of a horizontal partition 14: which is bent downwardat an angle at its front margin 15, the lower blades 12 being carried by the underface of this angular margin, while the upper blades are supported on the top face of said marginal ortiong'the front edge ofth'e parti-tion'lying fl uslr with the lower ends of the blades 11, as shown in Figure 5. This partition 14.

serves todivide the current and thereby; distribute the same to the two setsof defl-ector blades in an obvious manner. The middle portion of the partition 14 is provided. with the 'devic'e is "provided a curved outer'wall forming hood member extending n front of and partiall y'over' tliebafiie structure;this-cooperateswith a verticalwall- 21 along the other" side of the frame to impoundthecurrentreeeived from the open rear end ofthedevice and directed tothe deflector elements or blades 11 and 12. The forward portion this hood projects down flush with the lower-'e'rrdsof the'deflectorbl ades i'l which' portion of the hood is provided with an nne-r wall 22 'connect'ed withthe adyacent upper blades 1T. This end of'the 100d is also provided with a dependmgnose portion 23 having" fins- 24 and plOj-efiiilllg fihsh with the 'lower ends of the lower blades 7 12, for the purpose of protecting the same and-- also directing the currents fro-insaid blades directly against the bed of the stream. T1ie"-'- lower edge'of' the" remaining or" rear portion of the'hoo'd '20 is cut away opposite the lower end portions of the corresponding blades 1 1toprovide'adischarge space 25 from saidblades, said space being separated from the lowerbl'adesl2' by a horizontal fin I 26projecti-ngoutward flush with the low-er of the blades ii.- The type of dredgingimit-abeve crescribed is made in rights and le-fts, for use in p airs,

as"illustrated in- Figure l, where such a pair is show-Irconnected with theprow of a' raft 3@ of" the catamaran typef Each unit is equipped with parallelrearwardly and upwardly projecting arms-3 1 carrying pins or studs for engagement in channel guides provided at theonter sides of the hulls of the raft, and also between said hulls,- the latter guides being supported by 'braelretsdepending" from the opposite: sides of an opening in the forward end of the deck 36"whichbridges-the space between thehu-lls (see Figures-1' and 7);- The adjoining sides of each pair ofdredging units arealso provrded with vert i-ca l g u1de'rrbs-37 adaptedfor sh Iii-g engagement with each other (see 5 Figure 6), thereby allowing relative vertical "play of said'u-ni'ts b'utpreventing any relative movement of the same forward and backward, which of advantage in case of their" meeting an obstruction which would thus be opposedby the combined action of both units. F or each of the dredging units at the prow of the raft,. thelatter isprovided with-a winch device 38 operating cables 39 trained over guide pulleys 40 and connected. with the rear ends of the arms 31, whereby the latter may be conveniently raised and lowered. A lifting cable 41 is also suitably connected to each dredging unit for cooperation with thecables 39' in lifting the unit, and also for raising and lowering the same about the axis ofthe pins 32, each of said cable's being. carried around pulleys 42- in'oinrte'd en a derrick 43 provided with a winch-44.

The raft is provided with the usual centerboards or drop keels 46, adapted toberaised and lowered by means of winches 47', the members 4- 6 serving as drags or ancl'iorsiand to: steady and hold the rear end of theraft in alinement by neutralizing the action of cross currents. The raft may also utilize propellers 48 operated by the usual power connections (not shown) for producing such movement of the raft as is desiredf The described form of d e ing" unit, made in rights and lefts, enables the width of the apparatus to be e-Xtendedto take care of more extensive operations or'wider' stream channels by simply expanding the width of the raft and attaching additional dredging units as illustrated in Figure 1. In such cases, additional shorter hulls-3Q, are connected, asin-dicated at'52, to the sides of the hulls 3 0 and to the pro-we of these auxiliary hulls 30 are attached additional dredging units in the same manner as already explained with reference to the: main hulls 30, the shorter length of' the hulls 30 permittin-g these additional dredging units to be positioned to the rear of the units attached to the-mainh-u ll s. As illustrated, the hulls 30 carry derricks- 43 andwinch devices 38' and 44'for use in adjusting the position of the dredgingunitsf I Inthe operation ofthe apparatus above described, the raft is moved slowly down s-tr-eam'withthe baflie structures or d redging units in proximity to the bed of the stream, or against a sand bar, according to the nature of' the work tobe performed. The stream current'thus' intercepted by each baiiiestructur-e is'received in the-open rear side of the same and deflected by the horizontal partition 14 to the two sets of blades 11 and 12. Both sets of deflector blades operate to break up the main current intoa corresponding number of minor secend ary currents which are directed downward and outward, the principal function of the lower blades 12 being to discharge these minor currents forcefully against the material forming the bed of the stream, thereby loosening said material by a sluicing action lIOO and washing it outward in a lateral direction with reference to the course of the main current. This sluicing or digging action is carried out with greatest effect at the nose portion of the dredging unit where both the upper and lower blades 11 and 12 are caused to discharge the sluicing currents directly toward the stream bed, that is,

through that space at the rear of the nose portion 23 and between the fin 26 .and the front corner of the dredging unit. The remaining upper blades 11 act principally to exert an outward carrying action, as the horizontal fin 26 modifies the movement of the secondary currentsdischarged from the blades 11 so as to direct said currents to a level slightly higher than that of the lower 01' digging currents, with the result that the material being sluiced is washed outward away from the apparatus farther than would otherwise be the case.

Referring to Figures 7 to 9, these views illustrate simply a modified construction of the duplex form of the dredging units, in which a pair of right .and left units are combined in one rigidly connected assembly open entirely across its rear end, and with no central partition between the baffle structures at the front or nose portion of the device. A single pair of arms 32 is used to connect the assembly to the hull 30 of a boat, the connections and method of operation being otherwise substantially the same as with the forward dredging units of the preceding construction, excepting that a single winch device 38 and derrick structure 43 are required for raising and lowering the apparatus. 7

It is thus apparent that I have devised an efficient and yet comparative simple dredging construction for carrying out the desired objects of the invention, as regards either the excavating or deepening of river channels or straightening of the same, or the breaking up and removal of a sand bar, or the like. As a secondary result, in the excavation of the beds of waterways, the material is moved away out of the path of the main current flow, and so deposited as to build up the sides of the channel, thus protecting the banks from damage, such as that due to the action of cross currents. It is to be observed also that the apparatus is of a light and easily manipulated character, by virtue of its being of sheet metal construction, and the means employed for readily adjusting the same as to elevation and angle of operation, by which means moreover the dredging units may be shifted into and out of position on the deck of the boat or raft and transport-ed from place to place as required. Again, while theoperation of the device has been described as talcing place with the boat or raft movingslow- 1y down stream, conditions may requlre its use in a stationary position, as for protectmg a bank or channel and the like, and it is therefore to be understood that the right is reserved to make all such changes or modifications as may fairly'fall within the scope of the appended claims. I

What I claim is: V

1. A dredging apparatus adapted to be submerged in the path of a water current and comprising a set of water-deflecting elements of downwardly curved outline adapted to produce a'plurality of minor or secondary currents directed downward toward the bed of the waterway, and a second set ofv water-deflecting elements above said first set and of downwardly curved and twisted outline adapted to produce a plurality of auxiliary currents directed both downwardly and outwardly at a level slightly above. the path of said first minor currents for augmenting the outward carrying effect of the latter. r

2. A dredging apparatus adapted to be submerged in the path of a water current and comprising a plurality of deflector elements in position to intercept the current and of downwardly curved outline adapted to produce a plurality of minor currents-directed downward toward the bed of the waterway, a plurality of deflector elements above said firstlelements, said latter elements being of downwardly curved and twisted outline to produce a plurality of auxiliary currents directed downwardly and outwardly above the course of said first minor currents, and a partition member for distributing a portion of the main water current to each set of said deflector elements.

3. A dredging apparatus adapted to be submerged in the path of a Water current and comprising two parallel sets of deflectorelements arranged one set above the other and each set comprising deflector elements of downwardly curved and slightly twisted outline for producing a plurality of secondary currents directed in a downward and outward direction, and a' baffle and partitionstructure arranged to distribute a portion of the main water current to each'set of said deflector elements.

4. A dredging apparatus adapted to be submerged in the path of a water current and comprising a row of deflector blades arranged at an angle to the current for splitting the same up into a plurallty of secondary currents, said blades having a' downwardly curved and twisted contour adapted to deflect said secondary currents downward and also outward in a lateral direction with reference to the course of the main water downwardly and outwardly in paths; contiguonsto thev paths of said first, secondary current for augmenting the outward carrying effect thereof.

5. A dredging apparatus adapted to be submerged in the path of a water current and comprising a double row of deflector elements arranged one above the other and each made up of downwardlycurved and twisted deflector blades adapted toproduce a plurality of secondary currents directed in a downward and outward direction, and a partition member arranged to divide the main water current and direct a portion thereof to each of said rows of deflector blades.

6. A dredging apparatus adapted to be submerged in the path of a water current and comprising a double row of deflector elements arranged one above the other and each, made up of downwardly curved and twisted deflector blades adapted to produce a plurality of secondary currents directed in a downward and outward direction, a 'baflie member for stemming the main water cnrrent immediately in front of said deflector blades, and a partition member ar ranged to divide the mainwater current and direct a portion thereof to each of said rows of deflector blades.

'Z. A dredging apparatus adapted to be submerged in the path of a water current and comprising a double row of deflector elements arranged at an angle to the current with one row above the other and each made up of downwardly curved and twisted deflector blades adapted to produce a pluralityof secondary currents directed in a downward and outward direction, a bafiie member for stemming the main water current immediately in front of said deflector blades, and a'partition member arranged to divide the main. water current and direct a portion thereof to each of said rows of blades, said partition member extending slightly short of the front portion of said baffle member and the rear portion of the latter having a discharge opening opposite the ends of said upper deflector blades.

8. An apparatus of the character described. comprising a forward baflie. member,

a. horizontal partition member having a downwardly inclined front marginal portion, and a double row of deflector blades carried by said inclined marginal portion of the partition member on the upper and lower faces thereof, respectively, and being of downwardly curved and twisted contour adapted to produce a plurality of secondary currents directed in a downward and outward direction, said baffle member having a discharge opening part way along that portion thereof lying opposite the ends of said upper row of blades.

9:. A dredging apparatus adapted to be row or said deflector blades.

10. A dredging apparatus adapted to be submerged in the path of a water-current and comprising two converging sets of de* fiect-or blades each set comprising a double row of deflector blades-arranged one above the other and at an angle to the main water current and being of downwardly curved and twisted con-tour adapted to: produce a, plurality of secondary cLn're-nts directed ina downward and outward direction, baffle means for stemming the main water current innnediately in front of said sets of deflector blades. and, a watendeflecti-ng member arranged to direct aportionof said main water current to each row of said blades.

11. Ar dredging apparatus adapted to be submerged in the path of a water. current and comprising two converging sets of deflector blades, each set comprising atdonble row of deflector blades arranged one above the other and an angle to: the mainwater current and being of downwardly curved and twisted con-tour. adapted to produce a plurality offsecondar currents directed in downward and outward direction, baffle means for stemming the main water current immediately in front of said. sets of deflector blades, and a water-deflecting member arranged to direct a portion of saidma-in water current to each row ofsaid blades, said baiile and distributing means cooperating with the forward deflector blades to produce atco-mbined digging actionby all the currents discharged therefrom and to deflectflthe currents discharged from the-remainder of the upper deflector ,lades-in outward directions above the paths of the currents discharged from the lower deflector blades- 12. A dredging apparatus adapted to be submerged in the path of a water current and comprising a double row of deflector blades arranged one above the other and all of downwardly curved and twisted contour adapted to produce a plurality of secondary currents directed in a downward and. out ward direction, and a horizontal partition member arranged to distribute a portion of the main water current to each. of said rows of deflector bil-ades, said partition member being formed with vent. openings to relieve water pressure in' shiftin said'member into and out of operative POSltlQlh 13.. A dredging apparatus adapted to be submerged in the path of a water current and comprising a pair of dredging units each composed of a double row of deflector blades arranged one above the other and at an angle to the water current and the blades of each row being of downwardly curved and twisted contour adapted to produce a plurality of secondary currents directed in a downward and outward direction, said units being assembled with said rows of blades in forwardly converging relation, and a waterdeflecting member arranged to direct a portion of the main water current to each of said rows of blades.

14. A dredging apparatus adapted to be submerged in the path of a water current and comprising a pair of dredging units relatively movable in a vertical direction and each composed of a double row of deflector blades arranged one above the other and at an angle to the water current and the blades of each row being of downwardly curved and twisted contour adapted to produce a plurality of secondary currents directed in a downward and outward direction, said units being assembled with said rows of blades in forwardly converging relation, and interengaging means carried by adjoining sides of said units and adapted to guide the latter in their relative vertical movement.

15. In combination with a catamaran raft having twin hulls, a dredging unit attached to the prow of each of said hulls, said dredging units being provided with double rows of deflector blades extending in forwardly boat and comprising double rows of de-.

fleet-or blades extending in forwardly converging relation, the blades of each row being of downwardly curved and twisted outline adapted to producea plurality of secondary currents directed in a downward and outward direction, an auxiliary hull attached to the side of said boat, and a dredging unit connected to said auxiliary hull at the rear v of said prow and comprising a double row of deflector blades extending at an angle to the water current and adapted to produce a plurality of secondary currents directed in a downward and outward direction.

In witness whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

LEWIS H. FALLEY. 

